From faba bean (Vicia faba L.), two new saponins were isolated by Seph
adex LH-20 gel filtration, ODS column chromatography and semi-preparat
ive HPLC. Their molecular weights determined by FAB-MS were 978 and 96
2, respectively. Results of TLC and FTIR analyses showed that these co
mpounds are similar to soya saponin group B. The presence of separated
saponins was confirmed by TLC for seeds of four cultivars of faba bea
n.